I saw how New York’s biggest airport wants to build a 5-star terminal. I’d actually look forward to flying through.

Developers hope the future state-of-the-art terminal will become a Skytrax five-star airport terminal — a feat no US airport had achieved until New York’s LaGuardia Airport finally ditched its infamous “LaGarbage” nickname with a new and improved Terminal B in 2023.

But to reach that status, JFK will have to overcome many long-standing problems, such as overcrowding and traffic congestion. In September, researchers from InsureMyTrip analyzed data from the Department of Transportation and found that JFK was among the worst airports for flight cancellations in 2024.

Business Insider, alongside other media, toured SITA’s pre-production testing center in Long Island to get a behind-the-scenes look at the technology coming to the new terminal to address the pain points of international travelers.

This includes facial recognition boarding, AI-powered gate systems, and air traffic technology to reduce the chance of near misses. If the technology works as promised, I’d look forward to flying through.

Customers can use their face to travel

Facial recognition has been installed at some airports across the country for international flights, including JFK’s revamped Terminal 8. In March, BI used biometrics to board a London-bound British Airways flight.

The new terminal wants to make facial recognition mainstream across the 23-gate facility.

The “e-gate” technology appeared easy enough to use for even less tech-savvy travelers. Flyers simply sign up for the service at check-in with their passport. Data is only stored for 24 hours, so travelers will have to do this step every time they fly.

Still, if the revamped Terminal 8 is any indicator, customers can expect “world-class” offerings, including luxury and local brands that represent NYC’s boroughs, and swanky new airline lounges that could meet the desired five-star status.

For example, Korean Air — a Skytrax five-star airline itself — plans to open one of its largest lounges yet with a kitchen and bar and a panoramic view of the airfield.

The new JFK aims for safer operations with fewer disruptions

Developers demonstrated technologies aimed at ensuring high levels of safety and traffic management — especially as near-misses continue to shake flyers.

One is a state-of-the-art ramp tower from technology provider ADB Safegate. This is where agents work to efficiently move aircraft around taxi and parking areas. It’s separate from the federally run air traffic control tower that guides aircraft to and from runways.

The technology includes a “virtual control tower” with screens that display live camera feeds across the ramp. This will assist in low-visibility conditions and improve awareness.

“There are cameras that allow a controller interested in a specific aircraft or a certain area of the airport, they can zoom in and zoom out to look at the area of interest,” ADB Safegate project manager Taha Zahir told media during the tour.

Complementing the gate and ramp tower tech is ADB Safegate’s AI-powered apron manager that can predict aircraft on-time performance and improve aircraft turn times — meaning passengers can get on their way faster than before.

“We have identified 25-30 activities that every flight must go through from arrival to departure,” Zahir said, noting things like fueling and baggage loading. “We know exactly what is going on with the aircraft.”